Pipe boom supporting apparatus



Nov. 3, 1953 4. M. LEWIS 2,657,667

PIPE BOOM SUPPORTING APPARATUS Filed oct. 18, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. J.M. LEWIS ATTORNEY Nov. 3, 1953 J. M.LEW|S 2,657,667

' PIPE BOOM SUPPORTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 18, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. J.M. LEWIS ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 3, 1953 PIPE BOOM SUPPORTING APPARATUS Jesse M. Lewis, Tulsa, Okla., assignor to Williams Brothers Company, Tulsa, Okla., a corporation of Nevada Application October 18, 1950, Serial No. 190,855 8 Claims. (01. 118-506) This invention relates to a boom supporting apparatus, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an apparatus for supporting a boom utilized in the internal treatment of tubular objects such as pipes and the like.

In the usual pipe processing yard utilized for the purpose of internally treating pipes, or similar cylindrical objects, three principal steps are utilized: internally cleaning the pipe; spraying priming material onto the inner surface of the pipe; and internally coating the pipe with a bituminous or asphaltic material. The cleaning is usually accomplished by inserting a rotating cleaning head through the pipe while retaining the pipe in a stationary position. The cleaning head is carried on the outer end of a horizontally disposed boom, and the boom is supported at its outer end by a suitable power operated car. The power car is adapted to rotate the boom and cleaning head as Well as move the cleaning head through the pipe.

v The priming is accomplished by moving a spray head, adapted to spray the priming material in a 360 degree pattern through the pipe. Again the pipe is held stationary, and the spray head is moved through the pipe by the use of a horizontally disposed boom. The boom is supported by a power car at its outer end, and suitable carriages spaced along the length of the boom which are adapted to move in a stationary runway. At least one of the carriages rolls along the inner surface of the pipe when'the spray head is moved therethrough,

The internal coating is usually accomplished by inserting a suitable V-shaped cantilevered trough in a joint of pipe. The trough is filled with the coating material and the pipe is' placed in rotation. As the pipe rotates, the trough is tilted to spill the coating material onto the inner surface of the pipe. The rotary motion of the pipe tends to spread the coating material into a relatively even and uninterrupted coat on the It will be apparent that the length of the .pipe that may be treated, particularly in the internal coating portion of the treatment, is very limited. The cantilevered troughmust be retained in a truly horizontal position to obtain the desired results, and since the coating material carried by the trough is relatively heavy, the trough cannot be of extended length.

The present invention contemplates a stationary boom over which a pipe may be telescoped, as contrasted with the movable booms and troughs presently utilized. The boom is suspended in a horizontal position by use of suitable hangers and hooks in such a manner that when a pipe is telescoped over the boom, the pipe will disengage the hangers and allow the boom to be supported on the inner surface of the pipe by use of suitable rollers or casters. The pipe is adapted to be moved into a telescoping position over the boom by suitable mobile power cars usually moved under the supported boom. Upon removal of the pipe from the boom, the hangers will engage hooks on the boom to again suspend the boom in a horizontal position. The boom may carry a cleaning head or spray head on the outer end thereof in order to perform any one of the various treating operations. The boom may be of a suitable length to accommodate multiple joints of pipe.

An important object of this invention is to provide a novel apparatus for supporting a boom used in the internal treatment of pipes.

Another object of this invention is to provide a boom supporting apparatus whereby a plurality of pipe joints may be treated in one operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for supporting a pipe boom whereby ,a pipe may be telescoped over the boom without interference with the supporting structure.

i A further object of this invention is to provide a boom supporting apparatus whereby a pipe being telescoped over the boom will automatically disengage the boom supporting mechanism and permit the boom to be supported by the pipe.

A still further object of this invention is to 7 provide apparatus for supporting and maintaining a boom in a horizontal position. Another object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive boom supportingapparatus; Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detail description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention.

In the drawings: ,i- Figure l is a perspective view of the novel boom and the supporting apparatus therefor.

Figure 2 is a 'detail of a hanger and hook device for supporting the boom.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the boom illustrating a pipe, in dotted lines, being tele-- scoped over the boom. Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character 2 designates a novel boom having a suitable spray head 4 secured to an outer end 6 thereof. The opposite end 8 of the boom .2 "is anchored by a plurality of upstanding braces l0;

- 3 The boom 2 extends through a plurality of A- frames I2 uniformly spaced along the length thereof.

An adapter plate I4 (Fig. 2) is secured to the lower side of the top member l6 of each A-irame I2 in line with the longitudinal center line (not shown) of the boom 2. A bracket l8, having a pair of depending arms straddling the center line of the boom 2, is secured by a pair of bolts 22 to each adapter plate I4. Aligned apertures are provided in the lower ends of the arms 20 to rotatably receive the opposite endsof astud: 2G. The pin 26 is secured in the apertures '21 by suitable cotter pins 28 or the like. A- pair--of v transverse apertures 30 are also provided in the pin 26 symmetric with the center line of the boom 2. A downwardly extending u shaped hanger 32 has its free ends 34 extending through the apertures 30 and secured to the pin- 26 by the threaded nuts 36. The lower loop end 38 of each hanger 32 is adapted to engage a hook 40.ri'gidly Secu'redto the upper side of the boom. 2, in line with the longitudinal center line thereof. The hooks M), are provided v.WithEan open slotAl extendingtoward the inner end 8 ofthe boom 2 for purposes as will be hereinaftersetforth.

A .pair otpaster mounting plates 42.,fiFig. 3) are secured tothe underside of the. boom 2.in longitudinal spaced relation to each A-jrame, J2.

Asuitable. casterfit is secured to each mounting platen by-a-plurality of bolts 46. ,Each of the casters, 4lareprovidedwith caster wheels 48 contactingthe innersuriac e of the pipe 50. (shown in dott a ,iines.m.pi 3) when the pipe is telescoped;- over the boom 2 as will be hereinafter set forth. Operation operation, the boom'z is' normally "supported by the upstanding A -frames l2 through the medium of the pivotal hangers 32 and hooks 40. As a-"pi-pe 5D (Fig. 3 which is movably supported by suitablemobile power cars, not shown) is telescoped over the boom 2, the leadingend (not shown) of the pipe strikes the hangers32 to disengage the hangers from the hooks 40 and'svving t h s r up ar 9 1 f f r yfjmq smentof the pipe -Previous to the disengagement or each hangerfl; however, the proximately disposed caster wheels 4'8 contact the inner su fee of the pipe 50 to support the boom 2. The

caster-wheels 48 are preferably disposed'slig'htly onto the-boom2, coating materialmaybefsupplied to the spray head 4 through the boom 2. The pipe 50- may then. be translated off. of "the boom 2 andsimultaneouslyrotated to apply the coating.materialinternallyion. the pipe 50. in a helical path. As the pipeill .is rotated, thecasters 44 automatic-ally assume they position shown .by the right. handcasters M in Fig.3 to permit, free rotation of the pipe 50. In the ,eventja 360 degree type of spray :head ,(not shown) such asjthose used in priming operations is. provided on the cnd 6 of the boom 2,.the pipe 50.may,be, simply translated off. of the;.boom .2. Asthe pipe 50, moves past each hook 411, the respective hanger 32 therefore is then permitted to swing downwardly by gravity into engagement therewith to support the boom 2. It will be noted that as each hanger 32 is engaged, the respective casters M will still be in a raised position in the pipe 50 to facilitate the engagement of the hangers 32 and hooks 40 The braces IQ preclude longitudinal movement of the. boom} during the tre'a'ting operations, as well as support the rear end 8 of the boom. I It will be readily appreciated that the boom 2 may efliciently be utilized to support a cleaning heaifinot shownr instead of the spray head I if desired. Theboom 2 may then be used as a housing. for the cleaning head shaft (not shown) rotated any suitable manner (not shown) The length 0'! the hangers 32 may be readily adjusted, by themats 36 to support the boom 2 in either a truly horizontal position or at an angle to the horizontal as desired, and a sufiicient number of A-frames l2 may be provided to assureno sagging or deformation of the boom 2. From. the foregoing it is apparent that the present invention provides a novel apparatus. for supporting .a boom whereby a pipe or the like may be readily telescoped over the boom without interference with supporting structure. The boom may be disposed at any desired angle and will not sagor bend, either before'or after apipe is telescopedthereon. The boom may beer "a suitable length to accommodate a plurality of pipe joints.

"Changes may be made in the combination'and arrangement "or partsas heretoforeset forth in the specification and shown in the drawingsjit being understood that any 'rnodificationin the precisembodiment of 'the'inve'n'tion may be made within the scope-of the following claims without departing "from "the spirit of the "invention.

l. apparatus of "the character "described,

comprising a horizontally disposed boom, aphir'alit'y of braces anchoringpne fend of the boom to precl'u'de l'oi'igi'tiidinal movement thereof, a pitrality or support"framesflstr-addling the boom and arran euflat space'd'irltervals along 'the boomja hook "sccur'edfon the upper" surface of the boom underneath each support frame, and a "pivotal hang carried by each support frame engaging the adjacenthookiorsupporting the poem. 2. In'a'n apparatus for theinternaltreatmentof p nes, ompr s ng a boom, bracesfsecured to one end of the boom to preclude longitudinahmov mentthereof, a plurality of hooks securedto'the bq m in. longitudinal spaced relationfsaidj hooks being w w s. said. Z n E i i mf F ar n ed ins ec s e ati niw'tli ch" hook, "a hanger mer by V, I v en a ingjan"adjacent ok it: rebyjapipef ei'i'ig'jtelescoped over the-teem toward said oneendth'ere'of willtsucc essively'disfmi'i h t' o s,

3. In anapparatus forthe'internal' treatment oi pipes, comprising a. boom br aces atone endfof the ooing to preclu e, longitudinal linovementgof th I oo. apluralit or hooks secured, to the upper surfaceof the' boom in longitudinal spaced relati n; unsqr .f m S a d in thedl i a djacent each. hook, a pivota1 hanger carried by ach uppo t. fr mea apted to e sasean adjacent hook for supporting the boom,.said hanger dapted t b d sensasedimmthe hook by 'p p moving in telescoping relation over the, boom towardsaid one end thereofiand .a plurality ot rollers secured tov the boom for supporting the boom in the pipe when disposed in telescoped position over the boom.

4. In an apparatus for internal treatment of pipes, comprising a boom, a plurality of hooks secured to the boom in longitudinal spaced relation, a plurality of support frames disposed in spaced relation to the boom, and disposed in substantial alignment with the hooks, a hanger carried by each support frame adapted to engage an adjacent hook for supporting the boom, said hooks having an open slotted portion facing in a direction toward one end of the boom whereby a pipe moving in a telescoped relation over the boom toward said one end thereof will successively disengage said hangers, and a plurality of casters carried by the boom adapted to engage the lower inner surface of the pipe when disposed in telescoped position over the boom to support the boom in the pipe.

5. In an apparatus for the internal treatment of pipes, comprising a boom, means secured to one end of the boom to preclude longitudinal movement thereof, a plurality of hooks secured to the outer surface of the boom and arranged in longitudinal spaced relation, a support frame disposed in spaced relation to the boom and extending over each hook, a pivotable hanger carried by each support frame adapted to engage an adjacent hook for supporting the boom, said hooks having an open slot extending toward said one end of the boom whereby a pipe moving in telescoped relation over the boom will successively disengage the hangers from the hooks, a caster carried on the under side of the boom in longitudinal spaced relation to each hook for engaging the lower inner surface of the telescoped pipe for supporting the boom in the pipe, said casters being disposed from the adjacent hook in a direction opposite to said first mentioned direction and disposed slightly below the path of movement of the lower inner surface of the pipe, whereby the boom will be raised as each caster is contacted by the pipe when being telescoped over the boom to facilitate the disengagement of the adjacent hook and hanger.

6. In an apparatus for internal treatment of pipes, comprising a boom, braces secured to one end of the boom to preclude longitudinal movement thereof, support means for suspending the boom at uniform intervals along the length thereof, said support means being disengageable by a pipe moving in telescoped relation over the boom, and a plurality of casters carried by the boom to support the boom in the pipe telescoped thereover.

7. In an apparatus for internally treating pipes, a horizontally disposed boom, means for anchoring one end of the boom to prevent longitudinal movement thereof, a plurality of support frames straddling the boom in longitudinal spaced relation thereof, a plurality of open faced hooks secured to the upper side of the boom, a pivotal hanger carried by each of the support frames and engageable with the hooks for supporting the boom, said hangers movable in response to movement of a pipe to be treated in telescoping position over the boom for disengagement of the hangers from the hooks, and means provided on the boom for supporting the disengaged boom in the pipe.

8. In an apparatus for internally treating pipes, comprising a boom, a plurality of A-shaped frames straddling the boom in longitudinal spaced relation, anchoring means on one end of the boom to preclude longitudinal movement thereof relative to the frames, a plurality of hooks carried by the boom, a pivotal hanger carried by each of the frames and engageable with a respective hook for supporting the boom in a stationary horizontal position, said pivotal hangers responsive to contact with a pipe moving in telescopic relation over the boom to cause disengagement thereof from the hooks, and freely rotatable means carried by the boom for supporting the boom in the telescoped pipe.

JESSE M. LEWIS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,613,119 Nelson Jan. 4, 1927 2,295,272 Somes Sept. 8, 1942 

